[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 27, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             CONGRESSIONAL REFORM: LET US REFORM OURSELVES

  (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, only in Congress could we have 
a self reform package that pleases no one. The old guard warns of utter 
chaos and confusion, the reformers feel it does not go far enough, and 
the voters will not like it as it does not do away with the abuses, 
perks and privileges of office.
  The Joint Committee on Congress has spent 6 months and $640,000 on a 
package that has few changes, probably none that will affect the way we 
do business.
  My bill, H.R. 4444, does away with proxy voting. The package does 
not. My bill reforms our pension, parking, and travel guidelines. The 
package does not. My bill applies health care reform to us. The package 
does not. There is much, much more H.R. 4444 does that the package does 
not.
  The numbers speak for themselves, Mr. Speaker. 110 new freshman in 
1992. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee admitted in a 
briefing that they expect to lose 25 to 30 seats, which means they will 
lose more.
  We can reform ourselves or the voters will do it for us. Let us 
reform ourselves. Support total congressional reform, support H.R. 
4444.

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